Network resources brokering system and brokering entity

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a network resources brokering system, comprising: a communication network comprising at least one network resource; and a brokering entity, configured to receive requests from a plurality of network entities for accessing the at least one network resource within a charging period, each request comprising an electronic bid value competing with other network entities for accessing the at least one network resource, wherein the brokering entity is configured to select a network entity from the plurality of network entities, the selected network entity being associated with a bid value fulfilling a selection rule, and to grant the selected network entity access to the at least one network resource within the charging period.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A network resources brokering system, comprising:
 a communication network comprising at least one network resource; and 
 a brokering entity, configured to receive requests from a plurality of network entities for accessing the at least one network resource within a charging period, each request comprising an electronic bid value competing with other network entities for accessing the at least one network resource, 
 wherein the brokering entity is configured to select a network entity from the plurality of network entities, the selected network entity being associated with a bid value fulfilling a selection rule, and to grant the selected network entity access to the at least one network resource within the charging period, 
 wherein a length of the charging period is aligned with a length of an aggregation period for providing operational statistics of the communication network, 
 wherein the charging period is synchronized to start and stop at the same time as the aggregation period for operational statistics, and 
 wherein the brokering entity is configured to create a feedback loop by exploiting the synchronization between the charging period and the aggregation period, wherein the feedback loop utilizes the operational statistics and other statistics gathered periodically within the charging period to measure an availability of low latency access. 
 
     
     
       2. The network resources brokering system of  claim 1 , wherein the brokering entity is configured to select the network entity prior to a start of the charging period. 
     
     
       3. The network resources brokering system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one network resource is a radio access network resource and the brokering entity is configured to grant access to the RAN resource. 
     
     
       4. The network resources brokering system of  claim 1 , wherein the brokering entity is configured to rank the plurality of network entities according to their electronic bid values and to select a network entity which request comprises a highest electronic bid value. 
     
     
       5. The network resources brokering system of  claim 4 , wherein the brokering entity is configured to select network entities of the plurality of network entities, which requests comprise the same electronic bid value, according to a fair arbitration scheme. 
     
     
       6. The network resources brokering system of  claim 5 , wherein the fair arbitration scheme is based on a round robin scheduling. 
     
     
       7. The network resources brokering system of  claim 1 , wherein the selection rule further depends on a distance of a respective network entity of the plurality of network entities to the at least one network resource. 
     
     
       8. The network resources brokering system of  claim 1 , wherein the charging period is predetermined having a predetermined start time and a predetermined duration. 
     
     
       9. The network resources brokering system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication network is a network according to a fifth generation, and wherein the at least one network resource is a network resource of a network slice of the communication network. 
     
     
       10. The network resources brokering system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one network resource is a chargeable resource and the brokering entity is configured to grant the selected network entity consumption of the at least one network resource within the charging period. 
     
     
       11. The network resources brokering system of  claim 1 , wherein the brokering entity is configured to grant the selected network entity preferential scheduling for accessing the at least one network resource. 
     
     
       12. The network resources brokering system of  claim 11 , wherein the preferential scheduling is a preferential scheduling with respect to time and/or space. 
     
     
       13. The network resources brokering system of  claim 1 , wherein the selection rule is based on a quality of the communication network that is determined by the brokering entity based on feedback of the operational statistics of the communication network. 
     
     
       14. A brokering entity for providing access to at least one network resource of a communication network, the brokering entity comprising:
 a receiver, configured to receive requests from a plurality of network entities for accessing the at least one network resource within a charging period, each request comprising an electronic bid value competing with other network entities for accessing the at least one network resource; and 
 a controller, configured to select a network entity from the plurality of network entities, the selected network entity being associated with a bid value fulfilling a selection rule, and to grant the selected network entity access to the at least one network resource within the charging period, 
 wherein a length of the charging period is aligned with a length of an aggregation period for providing operational statistics of the communication network, 
 wherein the charging period is synchronized to start and stop at the same time as the aggregation period for operational statistics, and 
 wherein the brokering entity is configured to create a feedback loop by exploiting the synchronization between the charging period and the aggregation period, wherein the feedback loop utilizes the operational statistics and other statistics gathered periodically within the charging period to measure an availability of low latency access. 
 
     
     
       15. The brokering entity of  claim 14 , wherein the communication network is a network according to a fifth generation, and wherein the controller is configured to grant the selected network entity access to at least one network resource of a network slice of the communication network. 
     
     
       16. A network resources brokering system, comprising:
 a fifth generation (5G) communication network comprising at least one network resource of a network slice of the 5G communication network; and 
 a brokering entity, configured to receive requests from a plurality of network entities for accessing the at least one network resource within a charging period, each request comprising an electronic bid value competing with other network entities for accessing the at least one network resource, 
 wherein the brokering entity is configured to select a network entity from the plurality of network entities, the selected network entity being associated with a bid value fulfilling a selection rule, and to grant the selected network entity access to the at least one network resource within the charging period, 
 wherein a length of the charging period is aligned with a length of an aggregation period for providing operational statistics of the communication network, 
 wherein the charging period is synchronized to start and stop at the same time as the aggregation period for operational statistics, and 
 wherein the brokering entity is configured to create a feedback loop by exploiting the synchronization between the charging period and the aggregation period, wherein the feedback loop utilizes the operational statistics and other statistics gathered periodically within the charging period to measure an availability of low latency access. 
 
     
     
       17. The network resources brokering system of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the brokering entity is configured to grant the selected network entity preferential scheduling for accessing the network resource of the network slice with respect to space and time by enabling access to a network resource of the network slice which is located within a minimum geographical distance from the selected network entity and by first serving the selected network entity in time.